Dear Sir or Madame,
I plan to build a Shaker style drop leaf dining room table by laminating 3/16-1/4 inch thick hardwood veneer onto both surfaces of 3/4 inch Baltic birch plywood. Prior to gluing the veneer onto the plywood, I will tongue and groove hardwood edging on the edges of the table section and the drop leaves. I am doing this so that when I glue the veneer onto the plywood, it will also sandwich the edging. I will use end grain on the ends of the top and the leaves so that the grain will go in the same direction (longitudinally) as the grain of the veneer. I also plan to use rule joints between the table top and the leaves.
Do you have any suggestions relative to the above plan that would help ensure its success? Any suggestions of glue type or edging dimensions? The final thickness of the table top and the leaves will probably be over an inch. What size roundover and cove bits should I use for the rule joint? Is a rule joint practical for this project?
I believe the best chance I have of successfully gluing the veneer onto the plywood is by using a vacuum bag. Any suggestions or comments in this regard? Can you recommend a good brand of vacuum bag?
Thank you for your help.
ClydeShiraki
Replies
Clyde,
You have some problems with this approach. First, you can't veneer 1/4" material onto a substrate without problems over time. At that thickness it's still wood, not veneer. Veneer is thin enough that it doesn't act so much like wood anymore.
If you were going to slice up your own veneer, don't make it any thicker than 1/8".
Your idea of banding the edges seems fine. However using end grain banding won't work unless it's captured top and bottom by some long grain to hold it together. It will be too fragile otherwise.
A rule joint isn't really practical for use with your plywood top unless the banding is thick enough. If you can get it thick enough without disturbing your design then I would use 1/2" cove and round over bits. Make sure their profiles match up before committing them to your table edges.
As for vacuum bags, I don't do veneering so I have no expertise in this area. I do know that you can make your own or buy them already set up and ready to go. But practice first on some scrap before trying your big slab. Get used to putting on the glue, preferably a slow setting urea-formaldehyde, getting the bag right so it doesn't rip, and getting the right squeeze-out. Use a good table to support the glue-up so the bag will push down on something substantial. Good luck. Gary
Gary, thanks very much for your help. You saved me a lot of time and probably saved my project.
Clyde
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